Mt Barker start and finish strongly to defeat North Albany in defender Lee Pavlovich’s 150th league game

Mt Barker are sweating on the fitness of veteran Sam Lehmann and intercept defender Darcy Wallinger after they failed to finish the game as the Bulls finished 42-point winners over North Albany in the final round of the regular season on Saturday. Wallinger injured his calf in the opening half and Lehmann didn’t play after half time with a back injury, sparking major concerns for the Bulls ahead of the finals starting this week in the Great Southern Football League. Bulls coach David Johnson said the pair and midfielder Scott Price, who had a bad cork, were no certainties to face Railways in the qualifying final on Saturday. “Both Darcy and Sam are a concern and would be doubtful at this stage,” Johnson said. “Scotty Price is carrying a bad cork and Rhys Hogg had another impact injury. So we’ll have to see how they go this week.” Six goals in the first and last quarters ensured the Bulls took winning momentum into the finals, outlasting the Kangas at Sounness Park in round 15. The Bulls set up the victory with six unanswered goals in the first term as the Kangas were made to pay for sloppy defending and wayward kicking in front of goal. The home side led by 32 points at the first change, and two goals from Dylan Gowdie and second majors to Lehmann and Steven Scott helped extend that to 41 at the long break. However, the Kangas produced an inspired third period, storming back into the contest as their midfield got on top. Jyrin Woods, Nathan Crudeli and Jonny Hegney were terrific at the stoppages, and majors to Graham Ross, Taj Williams, Jackson Davidson, Dustin Boyce and a wonderful goal on the run from Woods gave them plenty of momentum at three-quarter-time. The visitors trimmed the deficit to 17 points but true to their top-two form this season, the Bulls hit back emphatically as they kicked two goals inside the first three minutes of the final quarter to make life difficult for the Kangas. Woods tried desperately to inspire the Kangas to a win with another classy goal, and talented teenager Kobi Keen added his second, but the Bulls had too many answers at the other end. Zach Jackson rolled himself into the middle of the ground and had immediate effect before pushing forward to kick three telling majors as the Bulls ran out winners 18.13 (121) to 11.13 (79). Bryce Blaszkow capped a terrific day in the midfield with a final-quarter goal, Joel Gray again won countless clearances and pumped the ball inside 50 regularly while in his 150th league game, Lee Pavlovich was again rock-solid and youngster Sebastian Ballard did little wrong. Zach Jackson finished with six goals after kicking three in the opening term but he was well-held in the second and third quarters playing as a deep forward. His six goals secured him the Sean Plaisted trophy as the GSFL leading goal kicker with 63 majors. The Kangas had wonderful contributions from Woods (three goals) and Keen, while Davidson worked hard along with Crudeli, and talented teenager Lucas Ravenhill came into the game after half-time. Experienced defender Alec Haskins limped off with a serious hamstring injury in the first quarter. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said the game played out like most of their season had. “It was a culmination of our season, really,” Bootsma said. “We started slow, got back into the game and got some control and then dropped off again. “Overall we have improved dramatically, which is pleasing, although it has not correlated in wins. “We’ve played 40 players, had 14 blokes debut, and that in itself is a good thing.”